What is it?

HSBC is one of the world’s largest financial services organisations, with a staff of 330,000 and more than 10,000 offices and branches in 83 countries. Of Britain’s five big clearing banks, HSBC is the only one to hold more deposits than loans – and this ability to fund its own operations has meant that the HSBC share price has largely maintained its value through the credit crunch

What jobs are on offer?

The bank is expecting to hire up to 300 graduates in the UK next year to work in areas such as commercial management, consumer finance, insurance broking, information technology, retail management and investment banking. Most training programmes last two years and are designed to prepare graduates for management and executive positions

Where are the jobs?

HSBC’s global headquarters is located at Canary Wharf, East London, and it has more than 1,800 branches and offices in the UK. The bank also has opportunities for graduates across Europe, the United States and Asia

What’s the pay?

Salaries vary according to the programme that graduates join, but are described as “competitive”

What’s the competition?

Despite the financial crisis, a record number of university-leavers applied for City jobs this year and several of the top banks averaged more than 100 applications per graduate vacancy. Applications from the Class of 2009 are unlikely to match these levels, but competition for the top positions will remain fierce

How is the bank rated?

The bank was in the top ten in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers for five years; however, this year it slipped to twelfth place

How do I apply?

There is no time to lose – HSBC’s application deadline for 2009 graduate programmes is October 31. For full details, visit www.hsbc.com/studentcareers

— The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers is based on research with more than 15,000 final-year university students. The new edition of the book is available at timesonline.co.uk/booksfirst. The price is £16.99. www.Top100GraduateEmployers.com

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